REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE
Video Evidence
Video camcorders are used on most paranormal investigations. The most common camcorders are the Sony or JVC (analogue & digital) with low/lux infrared function that can be used in the dark. They are also used for documenting all aspects of an investigation and for interviewing purposes.
Unfortunately, the low/lux infrared camcorder that were so popular with investigators is now obsolete and has been replaced by low-light digital technology that is unsuitable for total darkness. The infrared technology is now only available in the more expensive hard drive camcorders.
A suggestion is to look for a second hand low/lux infrared camcorder - just beware these camcorders are getting old, so make sure the heads are not worn out and all buttons and functions are operating correctly.
A recent addition to the paranormal investigators' tool kit is the infrared security cameras. They are day/night cameras that are full colour during day light hours that converts to infrared when it becomes dark. They can either be wireless or hard wired. Cameras can be set up for in or outdoor use and usually are weatherproof. Cameras can be hooked up to a TV/VCR combo or to a laptop computer. The set up usually comes down to budget as it can be come very expensive if using multiple cameras hooked up to a hard drive. Up to four cameras can be connected up to a video capture device to give a quad screen allowing up to four areas to be monitored at the same time.
If an area has no power supply (e.g. abandon buildings, cemetery etc) security cameras can be set up using a voltage convertor with a car battery as a power supply (fully charged battery approx. 2-4 hours of power supply).
CAPTURING ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA:
The biggest problem with infrared camcorder / security cameras is that they can capture lots of natural phenomena.
This could include:
* Dust particles.
* Pollen.
* Fluff.
* Insects.
* Breath / condensation.
* Distant lights (e.g. streetlights, touch light, headlights etc)
* Atmospheric anomalies (e.g. moon, stars, jets, etc)
* Reflective animal eyes. (e.g. cats, sheep, foxes etc)
* Reflective surfaces (mirrors, polished surfaces etc)
* Shadows caused by moon light or external lighting.
These man made / natural anomalies can resemble unexplained phenomena such as orbs, echo-mists and shadowy figures.
Camcorders / security cameras at times appear to capture lots of strange looking anomalies, unfortunately most of these anomalies will have a rational explanation. Dust takes on the appearance of orbs moving in different directions at speed, rain gives the impression of comet like orbs moving very quickly. Fluff is picked up by infrared rolling or floating, giving the illusion of echo-mist or a ghostly presence. Shadows can be caused by moving objects such as curtains, tree branches etc. Insects, moths can fly past cameras giving the illusion of very bright orbs moving at speed. Infrared beam can reflect of polished or reflective surfaces giving the illusion of small bright orbs moving in front of the camcorder.
But there is always a small amount of footage depicting what could be described as unexplained phenomena that could be of great interest and importance. As an example, when investigating the Adelaide Gaol as part of Paranormal Field Investigators, over 300 hours of video footage was taken over a four year period. In that time we captured approximately one minute of anomalous phenomena that could not be explained.
Video footage on any investigation is very important but even more important to scrutinize it for all rational explanations before putting it in to the paranormal category.
ANALYZING THE VIDEO FOOTAGE:
Analyzing the video footage is not an easy job - there could be hours of footage to go through, if both camcorders and security cameras are used. This job can become tedious and boring, so here are a few handy tip that might make the job a little easier.
* If there are multiple video tapes / DVDs to be reviewed introduce task sharing. Each member of the
investigation team can review one tape each.
* When reviewing the footage do it in a quite area with no distractions so not to miss anything of
importance.
* Don't try and watch all the footage in one session. It is better to review the footage in 30-40 minute
sessions over a period of time to avoid getting tied or bored and losing concentration.
* Note anything of interest, mark where the footage as by using the counter or transfer it to another tape or
DVD for further scrutiny.
* When the footage has been reviewed the footage of interest should then be reviewed by all who were
involved in the investigation, scrutinized and discussed in detail. Be critical when assessing the material.
Make sure the final data stands up to scrutiny by eliminating all other explanations. This will make the
evidence stronger.
Unfortunately, the low/lux infrared camcorder that were so popular with investigators is now obsolete and has been replaced by low-light digital technology that is unsuitable for total darkness. The infrared technology is now only available in the more expensive hard drive camcorders.
A suggestion is to look for a second hand low/lux infrared camcorder - just beware these camcorders are getting old, so make sure the heads are not worn out and all buttons and functions are operating correctly.
A recent addition to the paranormal investigators' tool kit is the infrared security cameras. They are day/night cameras that are full colour during day light hours that converts to infrared when it becomes dark. They can either be wireless or hard wired. Cameras can be set up for in or outdoor use and usually are weatherproof. Cameras can be hooked up to a TV/VCR combo or to a laptop computer. The set up usually comes down to budget as it can be come very expensive if using multiple cameras hooked up to a hard drive. Up to four cameras can be connected up to a video capture device to give a quad screen allowing up to four areas to be monitored at the same time.
If an area has no power supply (e.g. abandon buildings, cemetery etc) security cameras can be set up using a voltage convertor with a car battery as a power supply (fully charged battery approx. 2-4 hours of power supply).
CAPTURING ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA:
The biggest problem with infrared camcorder / security cameras is that they can capture lots of natural phenomena.
This could include:
* Dust particles.
* Pollen.
* Fluff.
* Insects.
* Breath / condensation.
* Distant lights (e.g. streetlights, touch light, headlights etc)
* Atmospheric anomalies (e.g. moon, stars, jets, etc)
* Reflective animal eyes. (e.g. cats, sheep, foxes etc)
* Reflective surfaces (mirrors, polished surfaces etc)
* Shadows caused by moon light or external lighting.
These man made / natural anomalies can resemble unexplained phenomena such as orbs, echo-mists and shadowy figures.
Camcorders / security cameras at times appear to capture lots of strange looking anomalies, unfortunately most of these anomalies will have a rational explanation. Dust takes on the appearance of orbs moving in different directions at speed, rain gives the impression of comet like orbs moving very quickly. Fluff is picked up by infrared rolling or floating, giving the illusion of echo-mist or a ghostly presence. Shadows can be caused by moving objects such as curtains, tree branches etc. Insects, moths can fly past cameras giving the illusion of very bright orbs moving at speed. Infrared beam can reflect of polished or reflective surfaces giving the illusion of small bright orbs moving in front of the camcorder.
But there is always a small amount of footage depicting what could be described as unexplained phenomena that could be of great interest and importance. As an example, when investigating the Adelaide Gaol as part of Paranormal Field Investigators, over 300 hours of video footage was taken over a four year period. In that time we captured approximately one minute of anomalous phenomena that could not be explained.
Video footage on any investigation is very important but even more important to scrutinize it for all rational explanations before putting it in to the paranormal category.
ANALYZING THE VIDEO FOOTAGE:
Analyzing the video footage is not an easy job - there could be hours of footage to go through, if both camcorders and security cameras are used. This job can become tedious and boring, so here are a few handy tip that might make the job a little easier.
* If there are multiple video tapes / DVDs to be reviewed introduce task sharing. Each member of the
investigation team can review one tape each.
* When reviewing the footage do it in a quite area with no distractions so not to miss anything of
importance.
* Don't try and watch all the footage in one session. It is better to review the footage in 30-40 minute
sessions over a period of time to avoid getting tied or bored and losing concentration.
* Note anything of interest, mark where the footage as by using the counter or transfer it to another tape or
DVD for further scrutiny.
* When the footage has been reviewed the footage of interest should then be reviewed by all who were
involved in the investigation, scrutinized and discussed in detail. Be critical when assessing the material.
Make sure the final data stands up to scrutiny by eliminating all other explanations. This will make the
evidence stronger.
Photographic Evidence
Paranormal groups have been debating what type of camera is best suited for paranormal research for a number of years since the introduction of digital photography. As with any piece of equipment there are advantages and disadvantages with both digital and 35mm cameras..
On the surface, there appears a much higher success rate with digital cameras capturing anomalous phenomena but it must realized that a digital camera is capable of taking many more photographs than a 35mm camera. As an example, a 2mb memory card/stick can take over 500 high resolution photographs. That translate to many rolls of film if a 35mm camera is used.
As an example, on a normal investigation there could be up to a 1000 digital photographs and up to 4 rolls of film taken. On a good night, there would be no more than 1 or 2 photos of interest so that is a large number of discarded photographs.
ADVANTAGES OF A DIGITAL CAMERA:
* An investigator can see what he/she is photographing instantly through the viewing screen on the back
of the camera.
* If the photograph is a "DUD" for whatever reason it can be deleted at anytime.
* Photographs can be up-loaded onto a laptop computer during an investigation for instant analysis.
* The latest digital cameras are of a very high standard that have very useful features such as video
function and dust filters.
DISADVANTAGES OF A DIGITAL CAMERA:
* There could be glitches with the CCD chip.
* Digital photographs can be manipulated, changed or altered using the appropriate software programs.
* The most common complaint is there are no negatives corresponding to each positive photograph.
ADVANTAGES OF A 35mm CAMERA:
* There is a negative with every positive photograph.
* Different types of film can be used, colour, black & white, infrared.
* Different speeds of film can be used to suit a particular situation.
DISADVANTAGES WITH A 35mm CAMERA:
* Light leaking into camera because lenses are old or light-tight seals are poor.
* Double exposure.
* Deliberate or unintentional manipulation of exposure during developing.
* It is becoming more difficult to find photographic retailers/traders to develop 35mm films.
* 35mm cameras are becoming obsolete, very few manufacturers now make 35mm cameras and film.
All these faults and failings are a fact of life with digital and 35mm photography. There are those who criticize digital photography because it can be manipulated, changed or altered using different software packages. These failings are a fact with digital photography but many people forget that there have been many hoaxes involving ghost photography since the introduction of photography itself in the mid 19th Century.
The best way to solve this dilemma between digital and 35mm is to consider all these issues and recognize that both cameras have their limitations.
The problem with both types of cameras, especially digital cameras they can capture lots of natural phenomena that may appear paranormal such as dust, pollen, rain droplets, flash flare, condensation and the list goes on. It is quite common for investigation sites to be very dusty, especially in outdoor locations. There could be wind blowing up dust and pollen, just walking around people can kick up dust, cars driving past can blow up dust. All these situations could contribute natural phenomena being photographed and being misinterpreted as anomalous phenomena.
If it is a very cold night, condensation from human breath can give spooky images that could be mistaken for echo-mist or even an apparition. Rain and fog will also give false paranormal photos. If it is raining or foggy, it is advisable to reschedule an outdoor investigation. It is impossible to take credible photos in these conditions.
Also to be considered are the circumstances surrounding the photo taken and why it may have been taken. Did the person hear, see, feel something that may have caught his/hers attention? It is important to also consider the issues and circumstances relating to the photo and the events at the time the photo was taken. Also, a judgment needs to made as to whether the photo contains something of an unexplained nature.
The best way to solve this dilemma between digital and 35mm is to consider all these issues and recognize that both cameras have their limitations.
The problem with both types of cameras, especially digital cameras they can capture lots of natural phenomena that may appear paranormal such as dust, pollen, rain droplets, flash flare, condensation and the list goes on. It is quite common for investigation sites to be very dusty, especially in outdoor locations. There could be wind blowing up dust and pollen, just walking around people can kick up dust, cars driving past can blow up dust. All these situations could contribute natural phenomena being photographed and being misinterpreted as anomalous phenomena.
If it is a very cold night, condensation from human breath can give spooky images that could be mistaken for echo-mist or even an apparition. Rain and fog will also give false paranormal photos. If it is raining or foggy, it is advisable to reschedule an outdoor investigation. It is impossible to take credible photos in these conditions.
Also to be considered are the circumstances surrounding the photo taken and why it may have been taken. Did the person hear, see, feel something that may have caught his/hers attention? It is important to also consider the issues and circumstances relating to the photo and the events at the time the photo was taken. Also, a judgment needs to made as to whether the photo contains something of an unexplained nature.
EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) Evidence
Tape recorders have been taken on paranormal investigations for many years - many to replace note books by dictating observations. But in recent years voice recorders have been taken on investigations to catch ghostly voices and unexplained sounds. The phenomena of capturing unexplained voices on audio or video is called Electronic Voice Phenomena. These voices are different from normal voices as they are not heard at the the time but only appear during playback. It is then assumed by many people that these sounds may be paranormal in nature.
The main problem with reviewing audio recordings from paranormal investigation is unless a video camera is being used it is very difficult to recall at all the possible natural sources present in the location. Even when reviewing the video evidence there still may be sounds outside the range of the video camera.
But at least with a video camera it will be possible to eliminate some of the natural sounds. That is why it is not worth leaving a voice recorder on its own in a room as any sounds recorded will remain unexplained but that does mean it was paranormal just unexplained.
The problem with just hearing sounds is that we are used to seeing and hearing at the same time. If only a sound is heard it could be misinterpreted as the source is not known. If an EVP is captured on an investigation it is very easy to want to here something and the expectation is much higher even when there may be a mundane explanation.
The individual conducting the EVP work most probably would not be paying attention background sounds around them and in most cases it is to difficult to listen to everything. People after awhile get used to background sounds this could mean that some people may hear a sound while other don't. Some people would then assume that if only some people heard the sound , it must be paranormal.
But a voice recorder is an instrument and records everything within its range. A voice recorder never gets used to background noises like a squeaky chair or blinds banging against a wall. Recorders are also more sensitive to quiet sounds than a person would be.
Once a EVP has been captured whether on audio or video it is very important to make copies of the recording and keep the original safe and untouched. This is called the master copy and is vital evidence. If the original recording is cleaned up or manipulated, there is no master copy and removes vital evidence. It makes it impossible for others to analysis the original evidence. The evidence would then become useless.
Many people use audio editing software free from the internet (shareware or freeware). It is important to be careful using such software to enhance voices or sounds. While they can remove background noise from a recording, there are side effects such as altering the recording permanently. If there is a voice amongst a lot of background noise, the software may clarify the voice but it could also alter the voice. On occasions, a random background noise could be altered to sound like a voice. You could end up an artificial voice created by the software.
It is suggested if using audio editing software on a EVP, apply only one to two enhancements per-example and apply the same to all recordings.
On some EVP recordings, background noise could be important as it could give clues to any possible explanations for apparently paranormal sounds. According to ASSAP research, if the sound is louder than the background noise there is a possibility that it is a real sound that was not noticed at the time or was forgotten. It could also mean that the microphone was directional and happened to be aimed at a sound source that was not noticed at the time. But if the voice or sound was at the same level or fainter than the background noise, it could be a chance effect. Background noise is usually random and unpredictable. As an example, if two random sounds such as a chair squeaking and a floor creaking occurred at the same time, they combine to sound like something very different and strange. By listening to the recording and all the background noise or an extended period of time you might be able to deduce what precisely what has happened.
Sometimes there may be random sounds recorded from outside a building (that's if you are in a building) but on a recording may appear to come from within the building. Even occasionally, voices from outside a building can be picked up if using a sensitive microphone. There is no easy way to of telling this but having video camera during a session may assist. To assist with reviewing the evidence, a record of where, when and how the recording was made and the equipment used.
If recording outdoors, special considerations need to be taken when reviewing recordings. Wind can affect the microphone, producing loud sounds that may sound strange or cover up other sounds. To solve this problem, you can buy "microphone wind shields". Another issue is ambient background noise are higher than indoors. Wind can also carry sounds further than usual as well as producing odd effects. Real voices can also be carried over long distances.
The reality is that recording a paranormal EVP is more difficult than it might seem at first. So it is very important to spend the time to make sure the final evidence stands up to scrutiny by eliminating all other explanations, this will make the final evidence stronger.
References: ASSAP website
The main problem with reviewing audio recordings from paranormal investigation is unless a video camera is being used it is very difficult to recall at all the possible natural sources present in the location. Even when reviewing the video evidence there still may be sounds outside the range of the video camera.
But at least with a video camera it will be possible to eliminate some of the natural sounds. That is why it is not worth leaving a voice recorder on its own in a room as any sounds recorded will remain unexplained but that does mean it was paranormal just unexplained.
The problem with just hearing sounds is that we are used to seeing and hearing at the same time. If only a sound is heard it could be misinterpreted as the source is not known. If an EVP is captured on an investigation it is very easy to want to here something and the expectation is much higher even when there may be a mundane explanation.
The individual conducting the EVP work most probably would not be paying attention background sounds around them and in most cases it is to difficult to listen to everything. People after awhile get used to background sounds this could mean that some people may hear a sound while other don't. Some people would then assume that if only some people heard the sound , it must be paranormal.
But a voice recorder is an instrument and records everything within its range. A voice recorder never gets used to background noises like a squeaky chair or blinds banging against a wall. Recorders are also more sensitive to quiet sounds than a person would be.
Once a EVP has been captured whether on audio or video it is very important to make copies of the recording and keep the original safe and untouched. This is called the master copy and is vital evidence. If the original recording is cleaned up or manipulated, there is no master copy and removes vital evidence. It makes it impossible for others to analysis the original evidence. The evidence would then become useless.
Many people use audio editing software free from the internet (shareware or freeware). It is important to be careful using such software to enhance voices or sounds. While they can remove background noise from a recording, there are side effects such as altering the recording permanently. If there is a voice amongst a lot of background noise, the software may clarify the voice but it could also alter the voice. On occasions, a random background noise could be altered to sound like a voice. You could end up an artificial voice created by the software.
It is suggested if using audio editing software on a EVP, apply only one to two enhancements per-example and apply the same to all recordings.
On some EVP recordings, background noise could be important as it could give clues to any possible explanations for apparently paranormal sounds. According to ASSAP research, if the sound is louder than the background noise there is a possibility that it is a real sound that was not noticed at the time or was forgotten. It could also mean that the microphone was directional and happened to be aimed at a sound source that was not noticed at the time. But if the voice or sound was at the same level or fainter than the background noise, it could be a chance effect. Background noise is usually random and unpredictable. As an example, if two random sounds such as a chair squeaking and a floor creaking occurred at the same time, they combine to sound like something very different and strange. By listening to the recording and all the background noise or an extended period of time you might be able to deduce what precisely what has happened.
Sometimes there may be random sounds recorded from outside a building (that's if you are in a building) but on a recording may appear to come from within the building. Even occasionally, voices from outside a building can be picked up if using a sensitive microphone. There is no easy way to of telling this but having video camera during a session may assist. To assist with reviewing the evidence, a record of where, when and how the recording was made and the equipment used.
If recording outdoors, special considerations need to be taken when reviewing recordings. Wind can affect the microphone, producing loud sounds that may sound strange or cover up other sounds. To solve this problem, you can buy "microphone wind shields". Another issue is ambient background noise are higher than indoors. Wind can also carry sounds further than usual as well as producing odd effects. Real voices can also be carried over long distances.
The reality is that recording a paranormal EVP is more difficult than it might seem at first. So it is very important to spend the time to make sure the final evidence stands up to scrutiny by eliminating all other explanations, this will make the final evidence stronger.
References: ASSAP website